NETWORKING

NETWORKING

What is Networking: Networking is the number one way people get jobs. “Networking is the time-honored process of using cordial alliances and information referrals to further one's professional advancement and success. Networking is a two-way street. Members call on friends and colleagues for problem solving, information gathering, job leads, gaining access to role models, and for general support. In turn, they provide these services to peers and people on the way up”.

Benefits of Networking: “Because the vast majority of job openings are never advertised, job-seekers need to have a network of contacts that can provide support, information, and job leads”.Additional reasons to network:

To gather information in a low stress environment

To develop a clearer understanding of a specific career field

To begin to establish a network of contacts to hire or refer you (build relationships)

To get connected to information about a particular company or organization

To learn successful strategies for finding employment

To gain experience in interviewing

Because “94% of all successful job seekers claimed networking had made all the difference for them” (wall street journal, as cited on msn.com).

Building Your Network: Create a networking list or a contact list. Include all the people you know, and get their lists of contacts, etc. Be sure to include all of your parents’ friends, your friend’s parents, and friends of other family members. Listed below are resources and strategies you can use to expand your current network:

Attend information sessions and events offered on and off campus

Attend career fairs, recruiting and interview events

Speak with your professors and ask them for suggestions

Conduct an Informational Interview

Complete an internship or Shadow-a Saint

Join and use the SLU group on LinkedIn. St. Lawrence University maintains a specific group within LinkedIn, and students and alumni interested in becoming part of this group are encouraged to submit a request to join. The St. Lawrence alumni network is strong and active, and moving student/alumni networking to LinkedIn allows individuals to keep their information up-to-date, ask questions and participate in discussions, share insights, and conduct member searches.

Networking Rules: Networking is an intimidating task to accomplish and there are very clear networking rules that you need to follow when establishing and building relationships with your existing and growing network of contacts. Please see below the "dos" and "don'ts" to keep in mind while networking:

Networking Dos:

Do your homework before you meet with a contact

Do meet with your contact in person whenever possible

Do prepare an agenda in advance

Do educate your contacts about you

Do keep expanding your network

Do try to reciprocate as often as possible

Do practice before you begin

Do keep the door open for follow-up with your contact

Networking Don'ts:

Don’t ask for a job or internship

Don’t ask someone to send your resume around

Don’t expect too much too soon

Don’t assume others know your background

Don’t give the impression that you’re looking for any old job – be focused

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get a response from someone

Don’t bend the truth

Don’t forget to send a thank-you note!

Don’t forget to let your network know the outcome

Don’t disregard your contact’s schedule or time

SLU Group on LinkedIn:

With the increased use of social media and the considerable change in how alumni and students approach networking, the alumni networking database is now located on LinkedIn. St. Lawrence University maintains a specific group within LinkedIn, and students and alumni interested in becoming part of this group are encouraged to submit a request to join. The St. Lawrence alumni network is strong and active, and moving student/alumni networking to LinkedIn allows individuals to keep their information up-to-date, ask questions and participate in discussions, share insights, and conduct member searches. Students and alumni may also invite others to connect to them to build their network, and have more in-depth “off-line” conversations.

As LinkedIn is a service for individuals, each alumni/student will need to create a personal account on LinkedIn and submit a request to join the SLU group. To submit your request to join the St. Lawrence networking group,go to linkedin.com and create a free account or use your current account if you have one. Complete as much of your profile as possible, especially the Education section (requests to join will not be approved if the Education section is incomplete). After completing your profile, click on Groups, conduct a search by typing in the search box "St. Lawrence University (SLU)", and click request to join. Once approved, you will be able to post questions, participate in discussions, search for members, and add connections to your network.

If you have questions or require assistance please contact Career Services at careers@stlawu.edu or (315) 229-5906.

How to contact SLU Career Mentors:Please see pages 18-19 of the Professional Correspondence Guidebook for guidelines on how to contact mentors, and to view a sample letter/e-mail introduction you might send. If you will be meeting with a mentor, you can view the Informational Interviewing and LinkedIn recorded presentations by clicking on the Media Room link in the QuickLinks section of the Career Services homepage. You can also review a list of sample informational interview questions.

Be certain you ALWAYS write a note thanking each alumnus/a for taking the time to meet/speak/correspond with you. Keeping alumni informed of your job search assures them that their time was well spent and helps to strengthen your contact with important network contacts.